BOULDER — Saying it helps to be a Buffalo, former Colorado tight end and assistant coach Jon Embree was introduced as the Buffaloes' new coach this morning.

"There's a certain passion to have success in this program," Embree said. "Does it need to be a Buff guy? Maybe not. But if it's not a Buff guy, how will they know about passion? How will they know about the details that will make this program successful?"

Embree, 45, returns to Colorado from the Washington Redskins where he served as tight ends coach under former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.

Embree played at Colorado from 1983-86 in coach Bill McCartney's early years.

Embree also served as assistant coach at Colorado from 1993-2002 before going on to UCLA and then to the Kansas City Chiefs. He said Colorado's 1990 national championship "is one of the best kept secrets out there."

He told that to the players in a morning meeting.

"When I was at UCLA recruiting, going to schools, people don't know about Colorado like they should," Embree said. "They don't know about our Heisman Trophy. They don't know about our Butkus Award winners. They don't know about our Mackey Award winners, about our Big 12 championship. They don't know about the accomplishments we have as a program.

"People are going to know about it now, I'll tell you that."

Embree replaces Dan Hawkins, the man who beat him out for this job five years ago and who was fired last month with a five-year mark of 19-39. Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn could not get established head coaches such as Louisiana State's Les Miles and Air Force's Troy Calhoun interested.

But Embree's interview won him over.

"His confidence coming across as the CEO of our program and being able to lead was dramatically different than it was five years ago when we interviewed him," Bohn said. "From his body language to his tone to his ability to articulate his vision was incredibly captivating and compelling."

Embree said he will run a pro-style offense and will formulate his staff this week. He said he would retain linebackers coach Brian Cabral, a Colorado assistant for 21 years and who led the Buffaloes to a 2-1 record as interim coach.

Embree has a five-year contract worth around $1 million, not including incentives.

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

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